3D virtual reconstruction and quantitative assessment of the human intervertebral disc’s annulus fibrosus: a DTI tractography study

Dan Stein; Yaniv Assaf; Gali Dar; Haim Cohen; Viviane Slon; Einat Kedar; Bahaa Medlej; Janan Abbas; Ori Hay; Daniel Barazany; Israel Hershkovitz

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-86334-8

3D virtual reconstruction and quantitative assessment of the human intervertebral disc’s annulus fibrosus: a DTI tractography study

Dan Stein, Yaniv Assaf, Gali Dar, Haim Cohen, Viviane Slon, Einat Kedar, Bahaa Medlej, Janan Abbas, Ori Hay, Daniel Barazany, Israel Hershkovitz

Department of Physical Therapy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The intervertebral disc’s (IVD) annulus fibrosus (AF) retains the hydrostatic pressure of the nucleus pulposus (NP), controls the range of motion, and maintains the integrity of the motion segment. The microstructure of the AF is not yet fully understood and quantitative characterization is lacking, leaving a caveat in modern medicine’s ability to prevent and treat disc failure (e.g., disc herniation). In this study, we show a reconstruction of the 3D microstructure of the fibers that constitute the AF via MRI diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) followed by fiber tracking. A quantitative analysis presents an anisotropic structure with significant architectural differences among the annuli along the width of the fibrous belt. These findings indicate that the outer annuli's construction reinforces the IVD while providing a sufficient degree of motion. Our findings also suggest an increased role of the outer annuli in IVD nourishment.

Original language	English
Article number	6815
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	11
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-86334-8
State	Published - 25 Mar 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors wish to thank the Dan David Foundation and The Tassia & Dr. Joseph Meychan Chair of the History and Philosophy of Medicine for funding this research. In addition, we wish to thank the Strauss Center for computational neuroimaging, the Sackler Institute of Biophysics, and the Israel Science Foundation for the purchase of the MRI system.

Funding Information:
Funding was provided by Israel Science Foundation (Grant No. 1397/08).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General

Access to Document

10.1038/s41598-021-86334-8

Cite this

@article{d5e0c2274fd645a3974485e618c2a8af,

title = "3D virtual reconstruction and quantitative assessment of the human intervertebral disc{\textquoteright}s annulus fibrosus: a DTI tractography study",

abstract = "The intervertebral disc{\textquoteright}s (IVD) annulus fibrosus (AF) retains the hydrostatic pressure of the nucleus pulposus (NP), controls the range of motion, and maintains the integrity of the motion segment. The microstructure of the AF is not yet fully understood and quantitative characterization is lacking, leaving a caveat in modern medicine{\textquoteright}s ability to prevent and treat disc failure (e.g., disc herniation). In this study, we show a reconstruction of the 3D microstructure of the fibers that constitute the AF via MRI diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) followed by fiber tracking. A quantitative analysis presents an anisotropic structure with significant architectural differences among the annuli along the width of the fibrous belt. These findings indicate that the outer annuli's construction reinforces the IVD while providing a sufficient degree of motion. Our findings also suggest an increased role of the outer annuli in IVD nourishment.",

author = "Dan Stein and Yaniv Assaf and Gali Dar and Haim Cohen and Viviane Slon and Einat Kedar and Bahaa Medlej and Janan Abbas and Ori Hay and Daniel Barazany and Israel Hershkovitz",

note = "Funding Information: The authors wish to thank the Dan David Foundation and The Tassia & Dr. Joseph Meychan Chair of the History and Philosophy of Medicine for funding this research. In addition, we wish to thank the Strauss Center for computational neuroimaging, the Sackler Institute of Biophysics, and the Israel Science Foundation for the purchase of the MRI system. Funding Information: Funding was provided by Israel Science Foundation (Grant No. 1397/08). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s).",

year = "2021",

month = mar,

day = "25",

doi = "10.1038/s41598-021-86334-8",

language = "English",

volume = "11",

journal = "Scientific Reports",

issn = "2045-2322",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - 3D virtual reconstruction and quantitative assessment of the human intervertebral disc’s annulus fibrosus

T2 - a DTI tractography study

AU - Stein, Dan

AU - Assaf, Yaniv

AU - Dar, Gali

AU - Cohen, Haim

AU - Slon, Viviane

AU - Kedar, Einat

AU - Medlej, Bahaa

AU - Abbas, Janan

AU - Hay, Ori

AU - Barazany, Daniel

AU - Hershkovitz, Israel

N1 - Funding Information: The authors wish to thank the Dan David Foundation and The Tassia & Dr. Joseph Meychan Chair of the History and Philosophy of Medicine for funding this research. In addition, we wish to thank the Strauss Center for computational neuroimaging, the Sackler Institute of Biophysics, and the Israel Science Foundation for the purchase of the MRI system. Funding Information: Funding was provided by Israel Science Foundation (Grant No. 1397/08). Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).

PY - 2021/3/25

Y1 - 2021/3/25

N2 - The intervertebral disc’s (IVD) annulus fibrosus (AF) retains the hydrostatic pressure of the nucleus pulposus (NP), controls the range of motion, and maintains the integrity of the motion segment. The microstructure of the AF is not yet fully understood and quantitative characterization is lacking, leaving a caveat in modern medicine’s ability to prevent and treat disc failure (e.g., disc herniation). In this study, we show a reconstruction of the 3D microstructure of the fibers that constitute the AF via MRI diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) followed by fiber tracking. A quantitative analysis presents an anisotropic structure with significant architectural differences among the annuli along the width of the fibrous belt. These findings indicate that the outer annuli's construction reinforces the IVD while providing a sufficient degree of motion. Our findings also suggest an increased role of the outer annuli in IVD nourishment.

AB - The intervertebral disc’s (IVD) annulus fibrosus (AF) retains the hydrostatic pressure of the nucleus pulposus (NP), controls the range of motion, and maintains the integrity of the motion segment. The microstructure of the AF is not yet fully understood and quantitative characterization is lacking, leaving a caveat in modern medicine’s ability to prevent and treat disc failure (e.g., disc herniation). In this study, we show a reconstruction of the 3D microstructure of the fibers that constitute the AF via MRI diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) followed by fiber tracking. A quantitative analysis presents an anisotropic structure with significant architectural differences among the annuli along the width of the fibrous belt. These findings indicate that the outer annuli's construction reinforces the IVD while providing a sufficient degree of motion. Our findings also suggest an increased role of the outer annuli in IVD nourishment.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85103385497&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41598-021-86334-8

DO - 10.1038/s41598-021-86334-8

M3 - Article

C2 - 33767347

AN - SCOPUS:85103385497

SN - 2045-2322

VL - 11

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

IS - 1

M1 - 6815

ER -

3D virtual reconstruction and quantitative assessment of the human intervertebral disc’s annulus fibrosus: a DTI tractography study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this